Hey Kath! I absolutely love your blog. It is so inspiring, and I have gotten so many fabulous meal ideas. I know you mentioned this before, but I cannot find it…what host did you use when you first started blogging? Thanks!! have a great day

On calorie king they have a baked potatoe flesh and skin with salt (no salt is not an option), what does this mean? I would think salt is calorie free? I am trying to be accurate with potatos since their calories can add so fast! Any insight will be most appreciated!

p.s. I have to laugh when you consider yesterday a snow storm. I would never have even thought school would be cancel with that amount snow…I guess up north its totally different!

I have a question about bathroom scales. I have a Taylor scale that measures weight and BMI. When I weigh myself, I sometimes jump back on to make sure it was accurate. I've found that the second reading can be 3-5 pounds less than the first. If I continue to weigh myself, the subsequent readings all match the second reading, i.e. 3-5 pounds less than the first. Should I just ignore the first reading and go with the reading that's consistent?

Hey Kath! I have a breakfast question for you…I usually eat a high fiber, bran cereal for breakfast, and along with it either fruit or eggs (either hardboiled or scrambled). For the same amount of calories, which is better–the fruit or the protein? I usually don't work out until after 5, so which would be a better choice to start the day off?

hi Kath! I started out reading the "eat like me" blog at self, but since I have about the same height as you and would like to be around 120 pounds, I started reading yours as well.

I am at about 135 pounds right now.. I have lost about 10 pounds and am hoping to lose about 10-15 more.

However, I am at College and find it hard to stay on track all the time! Of course I like to eat carbs and like to drink on the weekends.

Is there any advice you could give me? I do exercise ..about 500 calories on either the tredmill/stair master or elliptical, and I do mix up my workouts etc. I think I just really need some good nutrition information.. and how I can avoid eating when I am stressed..

I was just wondering if you subtract the number of calories that one would burn by doing nothing (i.e., 80 calories/hour) from the total number of calories that the HRM indicates are burned from your workout when calculating your total number of calories burned and figuring out how many calories to take in for the day? For example, I'm told that if my HRM says I burned 500 calories, it would really be 420 because I would have burned 80 cals in a resting state.

Also, have you ever made any kind of "diet" drink that uses malted milk? I love the taste of malted milk and am trying to figure out a way to make it more health-friendly, if that is at all possible.

Hi Kath, I love your blog.. I am happy to see young women like us really caring about our health. My question for you is, do you look at other blogs like Eatlikeme for inspiration on foods and ideas since a couple others are actual RD's. Did they inspire you in anyway, if yes, then how so? Thanks!

Gen – I just read Michael Pollan's latest book "In Defense of Food." He espouses the same kind of approach to whole, 'real' eating found here. His "Omnivore's Dilemma" is fantastic, too, from an anthropological/sociological perspective. Non-food-related, I think 'The Time Traveler's Wife' (Audrey Niffenegger) would be a super beach or plane read. I also can't wait to read 'Eat, Pray, Love' so I third this suggestion!

Thanks Heather!. Blue Host hosts the blog and I use the Wordpress.org software.

Jenny,
Lucky you for seeing the original oatmeal post!! Yes, I put 1 oz of milk in my tea quite often, but you’re probably seeing the splenda on top mixed with the hot water, which I’ve found creates a little foam.

Katie,
I think the salt specific is only there for those watching sodium. Like Brianne said, salt has negligible calories.

MaryK,
I have no idea what’s wrong with your scale! Is it on a completely flat surface? Our house is built very strange (some corners are not right angles) and I found the same thing when we first moved in. Now I have to carry my scale downstairs if I want to use it – probably the main reason I stopped weighing myself on a regular basis!

Anna,
Good question. I bet the experts would tell you to choose protein for it’s satiating qualities, but personally I prefer fruit. I really like whole grains and fruit for breakfast – when I have eggs I’m hungry in an hour. I’m not sure why I and think everyone is different (some people swear by eggs!) Is there any way to combine all three? I think as along as the portions were in check that would be optimal. But I’d choose the fruit

Alison,
Polar F4. See FAQs!

Eliza,
First off, there is nothing wrong with carbs!!!!!! It’s my favorite food group by far and I lost all my weight eating them. You do want to have whole grains over refined, but refined products are OK too if you balance them with protein/fiber/fat to help stabilize your blood sugar and keep portions moderate. I have to be honest about the drinking – nothing de-rails my diet like alcohol. I like to have a glass of wine or two every now and then (like tonight!), but I think alcohol was one of the main reasons I gained the weight in college, so I would suggest that to be the first thing you cut back on. BUT you’re in college and need to enjoy yourself!! Just try to keep it to 1-2 drinks instead of 5-6. It sounds like you’ve got the workouts cranking out, so if you eat as many whole, nutritious foods as possible, you’re on the right track.

Lily,
KERF – I love it!!

Gen,
No, I don’t subtract out BMR calories. I think that’s getting a little too specific, especially since not even the fancy machines know exactly how many calories we burn. However, if I were to exercise for a really long time (like 4+ hours) I might take this into consideration, but not for my daily 1-1.5 hour workouts. I have not tried malted milk – what is it?

Jen,
Yes, I love reading other blogs for inspiration. I read Eat Like Me, Jenna’s Eat Live Run, Roni’s Green Lite Bites – basically all the ones on my links roll. And lots more that I have bookmarked. I do get recipe ideas from the other women – they are all such fun to read!!

Kelly,
Breakfast is up now!! I eat Harris Teeter (store brand) Organic Creamy Peanut Butter. I’ve tried a few other kinds, but this is my favorite! I thought Trader Joe’s was horrible – not sure why!

Thanks for all the book recommendations everyone!! I guess I’ll have to try to find some time to read Eat, Pray, Love too!